Bustle



(No Model.)

T. P. TAYLOR.

BUSTLB.

No. 370,108. Patented Sept. 20, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,103, dated September 20, 1887.

Application filed June 20, 1887. Serial No. 241,846.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridge port, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bustles; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction of this class of bustles. \Vith this end in view I have devised a novel construction of folding bustle made from a single piece of wire, in which side strips are wholly dispensed with and the expanding coils are placed at the top of the bustle, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective of my improved bustle complete, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing it in the collapsed position.

1 denotes a erosspiece at the top,havin g one or more spring-coils, 2, at each end, and continuous with or attached to the coils at each end a diagonal rib, 3. These diagonal ribs cross each other about midway their length that is, at the back of the bustle-and are preferably provided at their lower ends with eyes 4, for convenience in attaching one or more supplemental ribs, 5, if used, and the retaining-cord, 6.

7 is a belt, which is attached to coils 2 by loops 8 eyeleted to the belt, or in any suitable manner.

In practice I ordinarily use one or more supplemental ribs, the opposite ends of which are attached to eyes 4- at the bottom. These supplemental ribs curve upward under the diagonal ribs and over at the top of the bustle, and may be made of round, flat, or twin wire, according to the demands of the trade or the taste of the manufacturer. A drawing-strip, 9, is eyeleted or otherwise secured to the cross-piece at the top to the supplemental rib or ribs, and from the supplemental rib, or the lowest one, if more than one is used, extends in the form of a loop, 10, around bothof the diagonal ribs at their point of intersection. The retaining-cord extends across the bustle from side to side at the bottom, being connected to each of the eyes, and then extends (No model.)

upward at the sides of the hustle, and its respective ends are connected to coils 2. By means of this cord both the width and the length of the bustle may be readily adjusteda feature which is wholly new, so far as I am aware.

In manufacturing my improved bustle, a piece of wire of suitable length is taken, the middle portion of which forms the erosspiece. The coils are then formed at the ends of the cross-piece, the ribs bent into shape, and the eyes formed at the ends thereof. Its operation in use is precisely similar to that of the various folding bustles of this general class, and requires no detailed description at this time. When the wearer sits down,the bustle folds, as in Fig. 2. \Vhen the wearer rises, the coils at the top act to throw the diagonal spring-ribs instantly to their normal position, and the strip and loop act to draw the supplemental rib or ribs to their proper position, so that the drapery of the dress instantly resumes its proper form.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A folding bustle consisting of a crosspiece at the top, diagonal ribs formed integral with said cross-piece, springeoils at the intersection of said cross-piece and ribs, and a retaining-strip connecting the ends of the diagonal ribs at the bottom, extending upward at the sides and connected to the coils, so that in expanding the ribs are forced downward from the top.

2. A folding bustle consisting of a crosspiece at the top, diagonal spring-ribs formed integral with said cross-piece, spring-coils at the intersection of said cross-piece and ribs, a retaining-strip connecting the ends of the diagonal ribs at the bottom, extending upward at the sides and connected to the coils, a supplemental rib connected to the diagonal ribs at the bottom, and a strip attached to the crosspiece at the top and the supplemental rib and having a loop extendiug around the diagonal ribs at theirpoint of intersection, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

A. M. WoosTER, O. E. RUGGLES. 

